ABC General Hospital casting and auditions information Los Angeles

ABC General Hospital casting and auditions information Los Angeles | Soap Auditions Find Los Angeles Soap Auditions 2012

2012 Actors Resource eBooks

The 2012 Actors Resource Guide eBooks are now available. Comprehensive actors resource guides that include listings of talent agents and casting directors, sample actors resumes, acting classes, headshot photographers, extras casting agencies, work permits, child talent information, and many valuable tips and advice. Each eBook contains a minimum of the following:

• Casting Directors List
• Extras Casting Directors List
• Talent Agents List
• Acting Schools List
• Headshot Photographers List
• Actors Unions
• Sample Actors Resume
• Sample Beginning Actors Resume
• Sample Cover Letters
• Audition Tips
• How To Make an Audition Video
• General Talent Agent Information
• Entertainment Industry Terminology
• Child Work Permit Information
• Immigration Work Permit Information
• Non-Immigrant Visa Application
• Miscellaneous Resources
• PDF Users Guides

The 2012 Actors Resource Guide eBooks are now available for Los Angeles, New York, Boston, Chicago, Atlanta, Austin, Orlando, Miami, San Francisco, Seattle, Louisiana, New Mexico, North Carolina, Michigan, Vancouver, New Zealand, Australia, and London.

More locations coming soon.

Your 2012 Actors Resource Guide eBook will be emailed to you in the form of a PDF Portfolio attachment upon receipt of payment, usually within 24 hours but commonly within several hours or sooner. Also included is a “Single File Format” PDF Actors Resource Guide eBook that can be viewed on any computer, tablet, or smart phone. If payment is made using an "eCheck", the payment must clear your bank before the eBook is sent, and that process usually takes 3-5 business days depending on your bank and country of payment. Please include a preferred email address in the payment form that you would like your eBook sent to, otherwise it will be sent to the email address used for PayPal or Google Checkout payment.

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American Federation of Television and Radio Artists

American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA) is the performers union that has jurisdiction over all daytime dramas.

An actor or extra can work on a soap opera without being a member of AFTRA for up to 30 days. After 30 days from the first date of employment on an AFTRA show, the performer MUST join AFTRA. You can still work, but you will be required to sign over your payroll checks to AFTRA until it is paid in full.

You may also join AFTRA by going into any branch office, or you may join online. Please visit the AFTRA website for more details about the union and how to join.

www.aftra.org

Also, if you get a speaking role on an AFTRA show, you become eligible to join the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) one year from the date of performing the speaking role.

Will casting directors consider me if I randomly send in my photo/resume and don't have an agent?

Here is what casting director Gayle Pillsbury of Zane/Pillsbury Casting said in regards to general submissions when asked the following question:

If an actor does not have representation by a talent agent, what is the best way for them to get noticed by a casting director?

"You can also try and send a general submission of yourself to a casting office – I’ve opened some pictures and just really liked the picture of the person and held onto it until an appropriate role came up so I could audition that actor. And while I don’t want to sound discouraging, general submissions are a long shot – you’re really bargaining on timing and luck. But again, it’s about being pro-active and creative-minded."

Read the entire interview here:

Gayle Pillsbury Interview

Click Here for Gayle Pillsbury at IMDb

Here is casting director Jeff Greenberg's response to the following question:

Do you ever cast actors who are without representation?

"We do cast actors without representation."

Read the entire interview here:

Jeff Greenberg Interview

Click Here for Jeff Greenberg at IMDb

These statements mirror what the vast majority of casting directors have told me over the last 20+ years. I have a separate website that addresses talent agency issues. It includes FAQ, scam alerts, and a state-by-state listing of all legit talent agents in the USA.

Click Here to go to my Talent Agents information and resources website.

Back Stage

I am happy to announce my partnership with Back Stage, the industry leading trade magazine in the United States. Back Stage is the top resource for audition information, casting calls/casting notices, training opportunities, and entertainment-industry jobs, news, and interviews.

Film and theatre are the main topics reviewed and reported upon, but the television, radio, dance, music, cabaret, voice-over, modeling, commercial advertising, and stand-up comedy industries are also included in Back Stage's coverage. Back Stage is closely tied to its primary sister publications, The Hollywood Reporter and Billboard.

Readers of my blogs receive a special offer from Backstage.

How Soap Operas Are Cast

The soaps writers and producers agree on new roles they wish to add to the show. Then they give the script with the new roles to the casting directors, who in turn send out "breakdowns" of the new characters being cast.

These "breakdowns" actually are sent out by a service called "Breakdown Services" and are only available to licensed Talent Agencies.

Then the agents at these talent agencies submit photos, resumes, and sometimes "demo-reels" to the casting directors. Then the casting directors call in the actors that fit the roles they are casting, usually many many actors are called in.

Then they narrow it down to the best actors who came in and "call back" these actors to read again for the director, sometimes the writers, producer, etc. Then they narrow it down further, and sometimes there are 3 - 4 "call backs" before an actor is finally hired.

Soaps Operas generally do accept submissions from actors and extras directly. The casting director will call in an actor who sends a photo and resume on their own without an agent if they fit the look of the role(s) being cast. But they really do like to see soap opera credits on the resume.

Headshots

What a good headshot is NOT:

1) Your high school yearbook picture.

2) What you think you look like.

3) What your Mom, Dad, brother, sister, aunt, uncle, grandparent, priest girlfriend or best buddy thinks you look like.

4) Something created at Sears, Penny's, Glamour Shots or Willie's Weddings Unlimited.

5) A display ad for Cover Girl Makeup, Fashion Gal, Jim's Jewelry, Adidas sportswear, Garfield, The Simpsons, Harley Davidson, ad infinatum, etc., and so on.

A Good Headshot:

1) Really looks like YOU.

2) Doesn't hide the dime-sized purple birthmark on the bridge of your nose.

3) Looks like the camera caught you unaware that you were being photographed, and that you were really thinking about something specific, not just trying to look good for the camera.

4) Communicates your "essence" through your eyes, so that whatever you were specifically thinking about when the photo was snapped is something that will attract the viewer of the photo in a powerful way, so that the viewer will think, "Who is this person?"

Minimum Pay Rates for soap actors:

As of 11/16/2009 the minimum pay rate for a principal actor on a soap is $913.00 for a 1-hour show, and $683.00 for a 1/2 hour show.

As of 11/16/2009 the minimum pay rate for an under-5 actor on a soap is $397.00 for a 1-hour show, and $324.00 for a 1/2 hour show. An "Under-Five" (U/5) actor is an actor who works on a soap opera and has under 5 lines of dialog.

As of 11/16/2009 the minimum pay rate for a background actor on a soap is $144.00 for a 1-hour show, and $111.00 for a 1/2 hour show.

How To Memorize Your Lines

1. First use a pencil and write down or each page of the script (you can also do several pages at a time as opposed to the entire script).

2. Take the page into a quiet room, shut the door, and eliminate all distractions.

3. Look at the first line in your notes and read it out loud. Then, close your eyes and say the line without looking at it.

4. Repeat the step above, this time with the first 2 lines.

5. Next, try it with 3 lines. Then 4. Repeat until you have memorized every line in the pages/script/sides.

After a study session, take a quick nap. New memories are very vulnerable, but studies have shown that sleep helps your new memories stick. After your nap, repeat the memory technique once more for maximum retention.

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